Three big-name Chelsea stars including Conor Gallagher and Romelu Lukaku LEFT OFF matchday programme squad list
CONOR GALLAGHER and Romelu Lukaku have been left off of Chelsea’s matchday programme for their game against Manchester City.
The Blues host the champions in today’s 4.30pm kick-off at Stamford Bridge, with Enzo Maresca taking charge of his first competitive game at the club.
Despite having a new manager, it’s been the same old story regarding transfer business with ten new stars arriving.
However, Chelsea are still expecting several players to be sold before the window slams shut, namely Gallagher and Lukaku.
Gallagher is expected to join Atletico Madrid once a deal is also agreed for Chelsea to land Joao Felix – following the breakdown in talks for Samu Omorodion.
Meanwhile, Lukaku is also expected to join Napoli before the close of the window.
And ahead of their expected departures, they were both omitted from the squad list on the back cover of Chelsea’s official matchday programme.
Another star expected to leave the club this summer, Armando Broja, was also afforded the same treatment by not featuring on the list.
Meanwhile, in terms of the playing squad, Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling – whose Chelsea future now looks in doubt – were all not selected for the playing squad despite being named in the list.
Lesley Ugochukwu was also named on the Blues’ list despite sealing a loan transfer to Southampton on Friday.
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Broadcaster Ben Jacobs explained this was due to the programmes being printed well in advance.
In his line-up, Maresca named Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku and Wesley Fofana after they returned from long-term injuries.
Enzo Fernandez was also named as captain following the racism storm that clouded his return to the club following the Copa America.
Ex-Leicester boss Maresca named five new buys – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Pedro Neto, Marc Guiu, Renato Veiga and Filip Jörgensen – on the bench.